Franz's class was [Brawler].
It was a green-quality class with exceptional fighting capabilities. The Brawler class had three skills in total, one active skill and two passive skill. His first active skill, the one he had just used, was called [Crushing Blow].
All of this ran through Zeke's mind as he was blown away to a distance, crashing against the wall.
Bam!
"Gh…!"
He coughed out blood, his vision slipping away. He was already weakened, and a sucker punch like that from a Brawler was like a death sentence. But Franz wasn't keen on ending this little show too soon.
"Hahaha! Manifest your little stick, Crimson! C'mon!"
He laughed, walking towards Zeke.
Everyone looked at Zeke with a frown, sensing something amiss. Whispers and murmurs echoed in the facility.
"He's weak!"
"I thought he would be strong since he was handsome…"
"Hmph! His indifference always pissed me off, acting like he's better than the rest of us. Don't you agree, Andrei?"
Everyone looked at Andrei, wanting to see his reaction.
But contrary to their expectations, Andrei glared at them, sending a chill down their spines. They quickly averted their gaze, falling silent for a brief moment, then continued whispering again.
Andrei pursed his lips and watched the fight, his eyes distant.
'Zeke…!'
Zeke couldn't hear them at all. Darkness crept his eyes, and his heart slowed down. His muscles throbbed like a wardrum, sending numbing pain across his entire body. All he needed to do now was close his eyes, then it would end.
His body was already hurting since this morning, and it wanted nothing for him to stop moving. He just needed to close his eyes. Close his… eyes. But… why couldn't he do it?!
'What's wrong with me….?!'
Zeke's eyes were bloodshot, his hands clenched so tightly to the point they turned white.
But his indeciveness soon caught up to him. Franz arrived in front of him, staring down with a mocking expression on his face.
"You look like you could kill me with that gaze of yours, Crimson. But why don't you fight back?" He laughed casually, then paused. "Don't tell me…"
Franz's eyes lit up as if he had found the answer. He raised his voice, letting everyone in the room hear.
"Are you not taking this spar seriously?! Are you planning on giving up right off the bat?! That's… is that okay? I thought you were quiet strong and impressive, but you're just giving up like that?"
Everyone was startled, even Andrei's expression changed.
"So Zeke Crimson is a coward!"
Franz furiously raised his foot and drove it to Zeke's cheek.
"You disappoint me and everyone, Crimson! There's no place for cowards in the academy!"
He kicked him again and again.
Zeke's vision swam, blood spreading across his face. His face was already painted with a crimson hue, and Franz showed no signs of stopping. Instincetively, he knew that it wouldn't end unless somebody stopped Franz.
Franz suddenly lowered his voice, a devilish smile appearing on his face.
"Do you think that it will be over here, Crimson?"
"Wrong!"
"I'll keep beating you again and again. In this world, only the strong can decide. Weak people like you have no rights to decide their fates!"
Zeke's hand suddenly loosened, and Franz paused, raising his brows.
At this point, most of the students couldn't bear to watch any longer. This was a humiliation ritual! It was obvious that Zeke couldn't defend himself anymore. If this continued, he could die!
Andrei turned his gaze to Professor Vander anxiously. "Professor, I believe Zeke is too incacipated to continue! Please announce the results of the match."
Professor Vander nodded slowly, preparing to conclude the match. But at that moment, a loud blow suddenly echoed in the room, startling everyone. Vander's eyes widened in surprise.
Andrei turned even more anxious. "Professor! Zeke…"
But then he stopped.
"He… stood up…?"
"Did anybody see that?! What did he do?!"
"Franz… he was blown away?!"
Professor Vander lips curved into a smile, and Andrei turned his gaze around, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Franz was on the ground, his head raised in disbelief. Zeke stood in front of him, with eyes that could a kill a person. Zeke was drenched by his own blood, his wild, white hair painted with a crimson hue, and he was showing an expression that even he didn't know he could have.
When Franz had said that he wouldn't stop even after this match, something inside Zeke broke.
He finally understood why he couldn't close his eyes no matter what.
"Haha…"
Zeke chuckled slightly, his body quivering along with his laughter. But nobody mocked him, instead they found his image extremely terrifying.
Why couldn't he close his eyes? It was simple.
'That's what Zeke Starlight would've done.'
It was the best decision after considering everything else. Setting aside his emotions, it was the decision that gave him the most control over his situation, aligning with the teachings of the Starlight family. But when Alexander's face flashed through his mind, he felt like thousands of ants crawled under his skin!
He'd sooner die than admit he was a Starlight again!
But what truly broke the last thread was Franz's words.
'Only the strong can decide their fates…'
The Starlights were able to keep their strength after all these years because they remained strong.
Zeke was exiled to Red Land because he was weak.
Franz humiliating him like this because he was weaker than the latter.
Everything was because Zeke Starlight was weak!
Now knowing all that, was he content to remain as Zeke Starlight?
"No!"
Zeke clenched his teeth, staring down at Franz.
"I'm Zeke… Zeke Crimson…"
This name, given to him by his unknown helper, had became his identity in this backward dangerous crimson land. This insignificant name, Zeke would cling on to it from now on.
Franz looked at Zeke with a nervous expression, sensing something wrong.
"You… I'll kill you…"
Zeke raised his hand manifesting a stick. His vision swam, and his body was slowly breaking apart. What gave him the strength to stand up? Even he didn't know. He just knew that this match couldn't end with him on ground.
For one last moment, he clenched the stick and prepared a proper swing. Cracking sounds echoed, all of the bones in his body shattering. Everyone heard it clearly, and their expressions changed.
Franz looked at Zeke, his body frozen under the man's glare.
'This is bad, no…'
But before he could move, the stick descended on his face! Zeke's vision also slipped away the moment he made his final swing and only attack of this match. This time, he might really die… but at least he would die as Zeke Crimson, not as a Starlight.
Boom!